I felt exhilarated from running so fast. It had been years since I had gone full-bore like that. It was a cool, crisp morning and the sun had just peaked over the horizon. My lungs burned from the cold air that was invading them.

It was one of the most vivid dreams I have ever had.

And then something woke me up.

As I stirred into consciousness it only took me a second or two to realize I was in a medical crisis.

My heart was chugging along at a horrific speed, and it was skipping a lot of beats to try to keep up with the demand. I was short of breath, and instantly terrified. I stumbled out of bed and out my bedroom door to see if anyone was home. My son, Zach, came out of his room at the same time and knew immediately that I was in trouble.

“911, what is your emergency?”

“I think I’m having a heart attack…“

Saying those words sent a shiver through me. It was surreal. And waiting for that ambulance was the longest 7 minutes I’ve ever had to endure.

My wife had walked to work that morning. My daughters were at school. I hadn’t seen my older kids in Atlanta in two years. I had no chance to tell them goodbye. Was this the end of my time here? My life’s purpose and accomplishments felt so incomplete in that moment. I still had so much to do.

I’ve attached a great amount of importance on accomplishing things for the kingdom of God, in doing God’s work. And as I contemplated my life in those fleeting moments that day I wondered how badly I had failed to accomplish the things God had put me in this world to do. But one thing stood out more than anything else that crossed my mind during that frightening ordeal. I haven’t loved others enough. I haven’t loved my neighbors nearly enough.

I’m happy to report that I was diagnosed with a very treatable condition. I was only in the hospital for 24 hours, and with the help of some simple meds, I’m healthy as a horse again.

But I didn’t come away from this experience unchanged. I believe the Lord wanted this condition out in the open so it could be dealt with accordingly. But I also believe it was a wake up call for me.

Don’t waste a minute of your lives. I won’t waste another minute of mine.

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13, 14

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Matthew 5:43-45

Praying for my enemies is one thing – but to love them? This stands in the face of what the world teaches. It goes against my self-preserving instincts, and my most natural gut-reactions. Yet, curiously, it’s something I find myself longing to do on an ever-increasing basis. I never would have imagined I would be able to wrap my head around this verse in the bible. It was one of those “yeah, but” verses for me for years. So I’m very thankful to see this fruit beginning to grow in my life.

Lord, what act of radical grace can I give to an enemy this week? Please show me, and give me the courage to follow through in obedience.

Our Men’s Ministry, JourneyMEN, has been studying Francis Chan’s book, “Crazy Love” for several weeks now. In the book, he poses a hypothetical, but very thought-provoking question. It’s a question I have been meditating on, and really searching my heart about. So I wanted to ask it here…

If you were born and raised on a secluded island, having no outside influence and nothing to read but the Bible, what would church look like in your mind? And if you were rescued from that island as a young adult, and came to the United States, would you say that churches here resemble what you imagined church would look like while reading God’s Word for all those many years?

This was another great morning of worship at Daybreak! Please comment below and tell me what you guys did at your church! And please visit The Worship Community to see what other Worship Leaders did at their churches today!

This was a great morning of praise and worship for our church. Our youth got down front and were dancing and giving hand gestures for the song “Happy Day”. It was so energetic and fun. And they made it even more so.

“Let Creation Sing” was an excellent call to worship. I love this song!

“Holy and Anointed One” was a new song for our church, even though it’s been around for quite a while. It was the perfect song to move closer to the Lord in worship after prayer time. Daybreak loved it.

“Worthy Is The Lamb” is one we’ve done quite a few times, and every time we sing this song about our Lord, He moves our hearts in a mighty way. The corporate attitude of worship was amazing. And this was a tremendous segue into the Pastor’s message on how the Lord reveals himself in His world, and in His Word.

Finally, all the music and the Pastor’s message out of God’s Word softened many hearts and set up an amazing prayer time and altar call at the invitation. I love seeing lives transformed and renewed in the presence of the Almighty!

Thanks for reading my Sunday Setlist! Please comment below and tell me what you all did at church on Sunday! And please go visit The Worship Community to read more Sunday Setlists from other worship leaders around the globe.